How do you plan your rides?

[Oss]

Being in NY if I hit an ocean I either go north south or west from there  Most rides I start out heading north or east and just sort of ride to the music in my head

I plan my rides with Atlas' and just tear pages out and put em in my trunk but I also like looking at the squiggly lines on mapquest as I can zoom in much better than paper map  No GPS for me
It also gives me distances to gauge where I will likely feel like stopping for the night

This summer I used the weatherbug app on my smart phone when stopped for gas

It told me that over the mountain was a wicked thunderstorm so I waited 15 minutes before heading out
The storm was in Cherokee and by the time I got there the worst was over.

I can think of a bunch of times radar would have been a smart thing to watch, like riding
to Johnson CIty with Gman a few years back or out in Limon Colorado after the tornado business in Salina

[Hollyday]

motorcycleroads.com and roadsideamerica.com   
Motorcycle roads.. good tips
Roadside America.. nice quirky/interesting things to see like in Cawker City, KS.. worlds largest ball of sisal twine!

[CajunRider]

First, figure out where you want to go... IF there is a destination. 

Second, make sure the GPS (Water Proof in case of rain) has all maps of surrounding areas... just in case I get lost or need to search for fuel/lodging/food. 

Third, pack up all the luggage... remove 1/3 of what I packed... load the bike up with what's left.

Fourth, make sure the bike service is up to date and won't need maintenance before I return.

Fifth (My favorite part!!!)... crank up the bike and LEAVE!!!!

Sometimes I follow the GPS... sometimes I just choose random roads in the general direction... sometimes I see a nice squiggly line on the GPS that deserves checking out...

The main reason I use GPS is because I have virtually NO sense of direction... half of the time, I keep the GPS on "compass" mode just to make sure I'm close to my intended direction.  It also makes a handy trip calculator (miles traveled, average speed, times in motion/stopped, etc.).